Christian Pulisic opened his 2026 account with the first goal in Milan's 3-0 win over Lecce at San Siro, ending a barren run in front of goal that had mirrored the team's broader struggles in recent weeks.
The American had gone without a goal since the turn of the year as Milan stumbled through a difficult stretch. A convincing victory over Lecce, with Pulisic earning Man of the Match honours after a first-half finish built on a lovely touch, offered a reset for both player and club.
Speaking to DAZN after the final whistle, Pulisic admitted the effort had taken its toll physically but welcomed the result. "I ran too much today and I feel very tired, but that's okay: we played well as a team," he said. "It was a pleasure playing with these team-mates."
Asked about his year so far, he was candid. "It was very difficult for me, and for the team too, until last season. But come on, I scored another goal today: now we just have to keep winning and that's it."
Three points and a clean sheet at home will settle some nerves, though Milan's schedule will test whether the performance was a turning point or a one-off against limited opposition. For Pulisic, the goal at least takes one weight off his shoulders heading into the next run of fixtures.